We’ve all been told to “never give up” but “never” is one of those words that rarely fits. Truth is, sometimes giving up is exactly what we need to do. So here’s an incomplete list of things that are more than okay to GIVE UP:

• BLAMING
  Work on yourself instead.
• EXCUSES
  “Excuses are the nails used… to build a house of failure.” ~Don Wilder
• JUSTIFYING
  Stop justifying poor results.
• COMPLAINING
  Quit complaining about what isn’t working.
• NONPRODUCTIVE TASKS
  Cut out the nonproductive tasks that really don’t matter, instead practice the 80/20 principle where 20% of what you do produces 80% of the results.
• QUITTING
  It’s okay to quit; just make sure you start again.  Seriously, if you are going to quit something quit the quitting.
• SAYING YES
  Say “no” more frequently. You’ll find it easier and less stressful to follow through when you become pickier about your commitments.
• THE COMFORT ZONE
  Embrace change and fall in love with growth and learning. Continually stretch yourself.
• INACTION
  Do something to move closer to your target goal. Even 15 minutes is progress compared to inaction and that’s usually  all it takes to kill the inertia of inaction.
• OVER-ANALYSIS
  You’ve done some research, now start! There will always be more analysis that could have be done before you begin, but it’s much better to get started.
• SELF DOUBT
  We’ve all been there. The key is deciding to move away from self doubt toward self encouragement, positive actions, and reminders of what you have already accomplished. Become your own coach, cheerleader, and friend. Ask yourself, “if you spoke to your best friend the way you speak to yourself would they still be your best friend?”
• NEGATIVE INNER DIALOGUE
  Like self doubt, the negative words and images about ourselves strip us of our potential. Rewrite the scripts. What would your  inner coach say to empower you?
• PASSIVITY
  Believing that someone else holds the key to unlocking your potential for success, capabilities, and opportunities will leave you waiting and disappointed. It’s up to you to take action!
• SURVIVAL
  Most of us already have everything we need to “survive” (we have the basic necessities of life covered) so we need to focus our intent upon THRIVING not surviving.
• FEAR
  Fear was meant to be conquered by facing it directly with courage. If we do not, our dreams are blocked. So recognize what you are afraid to do and do it anyway.
• SOMEDAY SYNDROME
  Someday Syndrome can easily lead to missed opportunities and regrets. If it’s truly important to you take the first step… research that travel destination you’ve dreamed about visiting, outline that book you want to write… take the leap.
• REPETITION
  If what you’re doing isn’t working, take a chance and do something different. It’s been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Do something different and expect different results.
• WISHFUL THINKING
  Replace wishful thinking with determined action.
• IGNORANCE
  Know yourself, know what you want, know your strengths and pasions, and remain hungry for knowledge, wisdom, and growth.
• TALKING / DREAMING WITHOUT DOING
  Vaporous talking and dreaming produce nothing. This is not a dress rehearsal, this is your one shot at the life you’ve been given. What have you been talking most about but doing little? Flip it around. Do more. Talk less.
• ANYTHING THAT LACKS EXCELLENCE
  Who said you must finish that mediocre book or mundane movie? Just because something has a designer brand on it or was stamped “best seller” doesn’t make it excellent. Look for excellence and cultivate the distinction between good and best. Then become the best… YOU. Become excellent in all you do.

Asked how long it took to achieve Excellence, IBM’s legendary boss Tom Watson is said to have answered more or less as follows: “A minute. You ‘achieve’ Excellence by promising yourself right now that you’ll never again knowingly do anything that’s not Excellent—regardless of any pressure to do otherwise by any boss or situation.”